Luke 2:15 (ESV)
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the
shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing
that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
For an occasion as important as the birth of Jesus, one
song just isn't enough! Charles Wesley--who wrote almost 9,000 hymns--wrote his
own song about Jesus' birth. His
original version started with "Hark, how all the welkin rings," but
thankfully for us, his friend George Whitefield changed it to what we sing
today. The song starts by calling us to
listen to the angels singing about Jesus' birth. Hark basically means
"listen up!" and herald angels are messengers from God who have a
really important message. While "Angels We Have Heard on High" tells
the story of the shepherds, Wesley's hymn starts there but goes on to say who
Jesus is, and to marvel at the mystery of God being born as a tiny little baby.
So, who is that newborn that the angels sang about?
Wesley explains that he is the king who will bring peace between God and
sinners, and that even though he is adored by even the most important and
impressive beings in heaven, he was pleased to become a man "veiled in
flesh" on the earth. Wesley imagines Jesus as a frail little baby and yet
calls us to "Hail" (which is like cheering for somebody) him because
he is the Prince of peace who brings light, life, and healing to all. The
hymn's final stanza sings about the work of Christ as the second Adam, which
erases the image of Adam (representing sinful man) and stamps us with the image
of Christ. Singing this hymn not only celebrates Jesus' birth, it also reminds
us of the larger picture of what he did with his life, death, resurrection and
ascension.
Dear Lord, we thank You that the angels came to share the
God news of Your birth. But more importantly what You did later on the cross an
raising from the grave. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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